I adore Mindy Kaling. I think she’s cute, sassy and funny. With that said, I hope her new single-camera comedy, The Mindy Project, is given the chance to grow and develop, because based on the pilot, they’re still trying to find their legs.
The show follows Kaling as Dr. Mindy Lahiri, a successful OB/GYN as she maneuvers through the waters of life. She’s a skilled doctor, but not so skilled in romance and relationships. She’s like all of us single ladies — wondering if Mr. Right exists while we go from Mr. Not-So-Right to Mr. I-Should-Have-Stayed-Home. She can quote every romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan, and she wants that rom-com ending, complete with sweeping orchestral music as she runs into the arms of her man.
Alas, real life is nothing like the movies. Instead, her mascara runs, as does her pantyhose. She drinks too much and makes a fool of herself at her ex’s wedding. She even gets a tongue lashing from a Barbie-like doll after she falls drunk into a pool. Yes, you read that right.
Mindy shares a practice with two handsome doctors: Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) is a hothead and guys’ guy with a habit of stealing Mindy’s patients. Danny criticizes her for everything, including her struggling love life and lack of professionalism — even though it’s obvious to everyone except Mindy that he secretly admires her work.
In contrast, Jeremy Reed (Ed Weeks) is total bad news. He not only shares a practice with Mindy, but sometimes her bed, as well — despite her best efforts to resist.
Rounding out the cast are male nurse Morgan Tookers (Ike Barinholtz), a reformed ex-con and the hospital’s resident cheerleader, and Dr. Shulman (Stephen Tobolowsky), the head of the practice who loves to wax philosophical, especially if his advice gets the younger staff to leave him alone.
The receptionists are Betsy Putch (Zoe Jarman), a young and easily excitable girl who thinks the world of Mindy and is always trying to impress her, and Shauna DiCanio (Amanda Setton), a self-assured Jersey Girl who’s indifferent to Mindy and always knows the location of the cool party. Gwen Grandy (Anna Camp) is Mindy’s best friend from college, a lawyer-turned-Pilates mom who also happens to be the governor’s daughter.
I hope this show does well. It’s nice to see a female comedian in the lead for once, instead of a supporting character or sidekick.
The Mindy Project premieres Tues., Sept. 25, 2012 at 9:30/8:30c on Fox. Follow @MindyKaling and @MindyProjectFOX on Twitter.
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